Adjustable stilt



Sept. l2, 193,9. B, F v'rAYLm-Q 2,172,645

' ADJUSTABLE sTILT Filed` July 8, 1936 Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT GFMQE ADJUSTABLE STILT Benjamin F. Taylor, Pontiac, Mich. Application July 8, 1936, Serial No. 89,554

My invention relates to stilts of character.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved form of sti1t which is readily adjustable by the user; to provide a sti1t which may be adjusted as to length and height of the foot rest above the ground by the user while t'he sti1t is in use; to provide a sti1t of simple construction and of economic manufacture; to provide a sti1t in which the weight of the person on the sti1t will be very close to the point of support of the end of the sti1t upon the ground and thereby have very little tendency to pull the sti1t away from the body of the user; to provide a sti1t which may be readily locked in adjusted position in a simple manner; and to provide a sti1t in which the locking of the sti1t in adjusted position is maintained by the weight of the user upon the stilt step, and to provide a sti1t of simple and durable construction.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a view in elevation of the improved stilt with a portion of the wall of the tube broken away to show the openings in the wall that receive the adjusting and locking lug with the shoe shown in section.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the improved stilt.

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation of the foot or shoe at the bottom of the sti1t with a fragmentary portion of the stilt.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line I-l of Figure l.

In the construction shown in the drawing the sti1t comprises a pair of telescoping tubes I and 2 of circular cross-section with the exception of flattened sides 3 and 4 respectively which interengage when the two tubes are in telescoping relation so as to prevent relative rotation between the tubes while at the same time permitting free adjustable axial movement therebetween for adjusting purposes.

The lower end of outer tube 2 is surrounded by a clamping ring 5 rigidly secured thereto and preferably in the form of a metal strap curved so as to t the contour of the tube 2 with the terminating ends thereof bent radially and in spaced relation to each other forming a pair of spaced parallel lugs II and I IA. The lugs II and HA are provided with openings therethrough in registry and are adapted to receive a lug Ill therebetween, which is similarly provided wih an aperture through which extends a combined clamping and pivot bolt 9.

The lug I is an integral part of the step 6 4 Claims. Y (Cl. 272-70.1)

which extends laterally from the sti1t a sufcient distance to receive the foot of the user, the top surfaceI 8 thereof may be roughened or corrugated to prevent slippage of the foot placed thereon. The step I3 extends downwardly and inwardly from the main body portion thereof in the form of an arm 'l' and is provided near its lower termination with a laterally extending boss I2 formed on the side of the arm 'I adjacent to the stilt.

The inner tube I is provided with a plurality of axially spaced aligned slots or openings Ill which are adapted to snugly receive the boss I2, which boss serves as a lock to maintain the tubes in adjusted telescoped relation with respect to each other. The lower end of the arm 'I may be pr0.

vided with a semi-circular shoe or band I3 which partially surrounds and slidably engages the adjacent face of the tube I for the purpose of providing a substantial bearing for the lower end of the arm and foot support, and for guiding the boss I2 into engagement with the slots I 4 when it is desired to adjust the tubes with respect to each other for varying the overall length of the stilt.

The lower end of tube I which normally will come in Contact with the ground is provided with a shoe I5 which provides ample and suiicient bearing surface so that the lower end of the relatively small sti1t will not embed itself in soft ground or the like and interfere with the normal use of the device and for the purpose of preventing slippage on pavement or the like. Theshoe may be provided with either a corrugated bottom surface or may be .rubber covered as desired.

In the use and operation of the sti1t, the foot support 6 is swung upwardly as shown in dotted outlines in Figure 1 of the drawing, and the tubes I and 2 slide axially with respect to each other to the approximate position as nearly as can be estimated by the user, then the foot rest is swung back to its normal position with the lug I2 engaging in the adjacent slot I4, slight adjustment being necessary to secure this engagement as a relatively tight or snug lit is desirable, so that it will not be accidently displaced in use. The person using the sti1t then mounts upon the steps in the usual manner, holding the outer tube 2 grasped in the hand with the sti1t resting alongside of the body and back of the shoulder in the usual manner.

Should it be desired to adjust the sti1t further, this may be done even while mounted upon the sti1t by simply slipping the foot under and raising the foot rest 6 momentarily and then lifting up on the outer or upper tube 2, the weight of the lower tube will cause it to slide downwardly axially, and when the desired height is reached, the foot is again slipped out on top of the foot rest 6 and immediately upon the lug I2 sliding down and reaching the next slot below the position at which it is during the adjusting movement, it will be forced automatically into the slot I4 and thus the two tubes will be relocked in adjusted position.

It will be noted that by the use of two relatively small telescoping tubesI the weight of the person mounted upon the foot step 6 is offset but very slightly with respect to the point at which the bottom end of the stilt rests upon the ground; that is to say that there will be very little leverage exerted upon the upper part of the stilt 2, and it can be maintained in proper position at the shoulder Very readily and particularly as compared to stilts of general character in which the step upon which the foot rest is offset considerable with respect to the point at which the foot rests on the ground.

By having a foot of suitable size which may be varied under different circumstances on the lower end of the stilt, it is possible to utilize relatively small and light weight tubing and still have a good bearing for the lower end of the stilt to meet the bearing conditions when in use.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as dened by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A stilt comprising a pair of hollow standards having ilat mated sides, which standards are adjustable lengthwise with respect to each other, a foot rest or support hinged on one of such standards to swing upwardly from normal position, said other standard having a series of openings and a lug on said foot support adapted to engage the openings in the other of said standards for locking the standards against relative movement.

2. A stilt comprising a pair of hollow telescopic members having flat mated sides with one member movable within the other for adjustment lengthwise with respect to each other, a foot support movably mounted on the outer of said members, said inner member having a series of openings and means on said foot support for engaging said openings in the inner of said members for positively locking said members against relative movement.

3. A stilt comprising a pair of telescoping members one movable within the other for adjustment lengthwise with respect to each other, a foot support hingedly mounted on the outer of said members, said inner member having a series of openings, a lug on said foot support for engaging said openings in the inner of said members for locking said members against relative movement, and positioning means on said foot support for guiding said lug relative to said opening.

4. A stilt comprising a pair of telescoping members adjustable lengthwise with respect to each other, a clamping band surrounding the outer of said members closely adjacent to one end thereof, a foot rest hinged to said clamping band, said foot rest having a supporting arm thereunder, the inner of said members being provided with a plurality of axially spaced aligned openings, a lug on said foot support arm adapted to enter and engage a selected opening in said inner member, and guides at each side of said locking lug for facilitating the entry of said lug into such selected opening.

BENJAMIN F. TAYLOR. 

